Rose plant named ‘POULac007’

ABSTRACT

A new garden rose plant of the compact floribunda class which has abundant, pink and apricot blend flowers and attractive foliage. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida.

Variety demonination: ‘POULac007’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of gardenrose plant which originated from a controlled crossing between thefemale parent plant, an unnamed seedling, and the male parent ‘POULmax’,described and illustrated in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.10/192,746 dated Jul. 9, 2002. The two parents were crossed during thesummer of 1993 and the resulting seeds were planted in a controlledenvironment in Fredensborg, Denmark. The new variety is named‘POULac007’.

The new variety may be distinguished from its seed parent, an unnamedvariety by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The seed parent has a dark pink bud color as sepals unfold.        ‘POULac007’ has a light pink bud color as sepals unfold.    -   2. While the seed parent has an average flower diameter of        60 mm. ‘POULac007’ has an average flower diameter of 70 mm to 75        mm.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, ‘POULmax’by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The pollen parent has Red Group 46C to 47D flower bud color,        as sepals divide to ¼ open. ‘POULac007’ has Red Group 55D flower        bud color, as sepals divide to ¼ open.    -   2. The pollen parent has a petalage count of 18 to 22 petals.        ‘POULac007’ has a petalage count of 66 petals.

The objective of the hybridization of this rose variety was to create anew and distinct variety for garden use with unique qualities, such as:

-   -   1. Uniform and abundant light pink flowers;    -   2. Vigorous, but compact growth when propagated both as a budded        rose and on its own roots;    -   3. Disease resistance.

This combination of qualities is not present in previously availablecommercial cultivars of this type, known to the inventors, anddistinguish ‘POULac007’ from all other varieties of which we are aware.

As part of their rose development program, L. Pernille Olesen and MogensN. Olesen germinated the seeds from the aforementioned hybridizationduring winter 1993 and conducted evaluations on the resulting seedlingsin a controlled environment in Fredensborg, Denmark.

‘POULac007’ was selected in the spring 1994 by the inventors as a singleplant from the progeny of the aforementioned hybridization.

Asexual reproduction of ‘POULac007’ by traditional budding and rootedcuttings was first done by L. Pernille and Mogens N. Olesen in theirnursery in Fredensborg, Denmark in July, 1994. This initial and othersubsequent asexual propagations conducted in controlled environmentshave demonstrated that the characteristics of ‘POULac007’ are true totype and are transmitted from one generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustration shows as true as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typicalcharacteristics of the buds, flowers, leaves, and stems, of ‘POULac007’.Specifically illustrated in SHEET 1:

FIG. 1.1; Open flower, stem showing open flower, branching, and theattachment of leaves, buds, and peduncles;

-   -   FIG. 1.2; Flower bud closed and flower bud partially open;

FIG. 1.3; Flower petals, detached;

Specifically illustrated in SHEET 2:

FIG. 2.1; Sepals, receptacle, and peduncle;

FIG. 2.2; Bare stems exhibiting thorns;

FIG. 2.3; Mature Leaves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a description of ‘POULac007’, as observed in its growthin a field nursery in Jackson County, Oreg. Observed plants are 3 yearsof age. Color references are made using The Royal Horticultural Society(London, England) Colour Chart, 1995, except where common terms of colorare used.

For a comparison, several physical characteristics of the rose variety‘POULelap’, a rose variety from the same inventors described andillustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,821 and issued on Mar. 9, 1999,are compared to ‘POULac007’ in Chart 1.

CHART 1 ‘POULac007’ ‘POULelap’ Upon opening, the Red Group 49C OrangeGroup 27D. inner side of the outermost petals Receptacle Yellow-GreenGroup Green Group 143C. Color. 144B. Average 70 mm to 75 mm when 60 to70 mm when flower open. open. diameter.

-   Parents:    -   -   Seed parent.—Unnamed seedling.        -   Pollen parent.—‘POULmax’.

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

-   Blooming habit:Continuous.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—Upon opening, 33 mm in length from base of receptacle            to end of bud.        -   Bud form.—Point ovoid.        -   Bud color.—As sepals unfold, petals are Red Group 55D. At ¼            opening petals are Red Group 55D.        -   Sepals.—Upper Surface: Color: Green Group 139C. Lower            Surface: Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A to 144B. Shape:            Sepal apex is cirrhose. Base is flat at union with            receptacle. Margins: Entire. Very weak or absent foliaceous            appendages on three of the five sepals. Size: 30 mm (l) by 6            mm (w).        -   Receptacle.—Surface: Smooth. Shape: Urn-shaped. Size: 8 mm            (h)×8 mm (w). Color: Yellow-Green Group 148B. Anthocyanin:            None observed.        -   Peduncle.—Surface: Smooth. Moderate occurrence of stipitate            glands observed. Length: 35 mm to 42 mm. Color: Yellow Group            144C. Anthocyanic pigments the color of Greyed-Purple Group            184C observed. Strength: Somewhat strong.        -   Borne.—Varying from 4 to 12 flower buds per stem.-   Flower bloom:    -   -   Fragrance.—Very light rose scent.        -   Duration.—The blooms have a duration on the plant of            approximately 10 days. Afterwards, petals fall cleanly away            from plant.        -   Size.—Flower diameter is 70 to 75 mm when open.        -   Form.—General Shape: Rosette. Shape of flower when viewed            from the side: Upon opening, upper part:Flat. Upon opening,            lower part:Flat to slightly concave. Open flower, upper            part: Flattened convex. Open flower, lower part: Concave.-   Petalage: On average range: 66 petals under normal conditions with    10 to 15 petaloids.-   Color: Upon opening, petals:    -   -   Outermost petals.—Outer side: Red Group 55D. Inner Side: Red            Group 49C.        -   Innermost petals.—Outer side: Red Group 49D. Inner Side: Red            Group 49D.-   Upon opening, basal petal spots:    -   -   Outermost petals.—Outer side: Yellow Group 11D. Inner Side:            Yellow Group 11B.        -   Innermost petals.—Outer side: Yellow Group 11D. Inner Side:            Yellow Group 11B.-   After opening, petals:    -   -   Outermost petals.—Outer side: Red Group 56C. Inner Side: Red            Group 36C.        -   Innermost petals.—Outer side: Red Group 56A. Inner Side: Red            Group 56C.-   After opening, basal petal spots:    -   -   Outermost petals.—Outer Side: Yellow Group 9C. Inner Side:            Yellow Group 7D.        -   Innermost petals.—Outer Side: Yellow Group 9D. Inner Side:            Yellow Group 7D.-   General tonality: On open flower Red Group 50D. No change in the    general tonality at the end of the 7^(th) day.-   Petals:    -   -   Petal reflex.—Absent.        -   Margin.—Entire with very weak undulations.        -   Size.—36 to 40 mm in length by 31 to 39 mm wide.        -   Shape.—Deltoid. Apex: Round. Base: Acute.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Thickness.—Thin.        -   Arrangement.—Not Formal.-   Petaloids:    -   -   Quantity.—10 to 15.        -   Color.—Red Group 36D on upper and lower surfaces.        -   Size.—29 to 32 mm in length by 10 to 17 mm wide.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistils.—Length: 8 long. Quantity: 35 (actual count).        -   Pollen.—Color: Greyed-Orange Group 163B. Quantity: Average.        -   Anthers.—Size: 2 mm long. Color: Greyed-Yellow Group 162A at            margins with mid section Red Group 37A. Quantity: 52 (actual            count).        -   Filaments.—Color: Yellow Group 12A. Length: 6 mm.        -   Stigmas.—Equal in height relative to the anthers. Color:            Greyed-Yellow Group 161D. Size: 2 mm.        -   Styles.—Color: Greyed-Yellow Group 161D. Other Intonations:            None.        -   Hips.—None Observed in the field nursery in Jackson County            Oreg.

PLANT

-   Plant growth: Moderate, upright to bushy. When grown as a budded    field grown plant on Rosa multiflora understock, the average height    of the plant is 40 cm to 60 cm.-   Stems:    -   -   Color.—Young wood: Yellow-Green Group 144B. Older wood:            Yellow-Green Group 144B.        -   Surface texture.—Young wood: Smooth. Older wood: Smooth.        -   Thorns.—Incidence: 14 thorns per 10 cm of stem. Size:            Average length: 8 mm. Color: Greyed-Purple Group 184A with            intonations of Yellow-Green Group 144B. Shape: Deeply            concave.-   Plant foliage: Normal number of leaflets on normal leaves in middle    of the stem: 7 leaflets.    -   -   Compound leaf size.—165 mm (l)×120 mm (w).        -   Quantity.—Six leaves per 10 cm of stem on average.        -   Color.—Mature Foliage: Upper Leaf Surface: Yellow-Green            Group 144A to Yellow-Green Group 146A. Lower Leaf Surface:            Yellow-Green Group 146B to Yellow-Green Group 146C. Juvenile            foliage: Upper Leaf Surface: Yellow-Green Group 144A to            Yellow-Green Group 146A. Lower Leaf Surface: Yellow-Green            Group 146B to Yellow-Green Group 146C. Anthocyanin: None.-   Plant leaves and leaflets:    -   -   Stipules.—Size: 16 mm in length. Color: Yellow-Green Group            144A. Margins: Finely serrated with moderate to heavy            stipitate glands. Anthocyanin: Color: Greyed-Purple Group            183C.        -   Petiole.—Length: 30 mm to 35 mm. Color: Yellow-Green Group            144A. Underneath: Small prickles observed. Margins:            Stipitate glands present. Anthocyanin: None observed.        -   Rachis.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Underneath:            Prickles, 2 mm in length observed. Margins: Stipitate glands            observed.        -   Leaflet.—Size: 35 to 50 mm (l)×25 to 30 mm (w). Edge:            Serrated. Shape: Ovate. Texture: Smooth. Arrangement: Odd            pinnate. Venation: Reticulate. Glossiness: Moderately glossy            to matte finish.-   Disease resistance: Above average resistance to mildew, rust, black    spot, and Botrytis under normal growing conditions in Jackson    County, Oreg.-   Cold hardiness: The variety ‘POULac007’ has been found to be cold    tolerant to USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 6.

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the compact floribundarose class, substantially as herein illustrated and described as adistinct and novel rose variety due to its abundant pink and apricotblend flowers, disease resistance, and extended period of bloom.